Explaining that his left heel was a particular concern, Major Broad,
from Manchester, said: 'It's been blown up and "fragged" which,
apparently, is really bad.'

Physio: Both Major Broad's feet were broken in the bomb blast in Afghanistan

'Fragged': Major Broad will learn on Christmas Day whether he will walk again

More than 20 soldiers will spend Christmas at Selly Oak. Tomorrow
they will be woken with a traditional Army drink called a 'gunfire' -
hot black tea laced with rum.

Staff at the hospital admit that the last year has been the busiest since the conflict
in Afghanistan began in 2001. And they are seeing more troops who have
lost limbs than any British hospital since the Second World War.

Lance Corporal Michael David Pritchard died in a 'blue on blue' incident in Afghanistan on Sunday

Between January and November, more than 150 badly injured troops
were flown back from the war zone to be treated at Selly Oak - almost
three times the rate over the previous two years.

Senior physiotherapist Jane Mason, 32, said: 'Because there are so
many more injuries from IEDs (improvised explosive devices) and people
on foot, we are getting
many more amputees than we used to. But that's partly to do with the increasing survival rate.'

Tomorrow, the Queen will use her traditional Christmas Day message
to honour the sacrifice made by UK troops. This year the military has
paid a particularly heavy price fighting the Taliban. Of the 243
soldiers killed since the mission began eight years ago, 106 have died
this year.

In Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, the heartbroken family, fiancee and
friends of the 100th soldier to die in the warzone this year said
farewell at his funeral.

Hundreds of people lined the town's streets as a memorial service
was held for Lance Corporal Adam Drane, 23, of 1st Battalion the Royal
Anglian Regiment.

He was shot dead by Taliban insurgents at a checkpoint near Nad-e Ali on December 8.

'Tremendous pride': Mourners line the streets of Bury St Edmunds in tribute to L/Cpl Adam Drane, who was shot dead by Taliban insurgents

More than 500 mourners packed into the church, led by L/Cpl Drane's
father Desmond, mother Jacqueline, brother Christopher and fiancee Sian
Goodenough.

In a written eulogy in the order of service, they expressed their ' tremendous pride ' in his achievements.

Troops stationed at Camp Bastion, the British HQ in Afghanistan,
will perform a carol concert today and tomorrow as well as opening
presents delivered from their loved ones at home.

Festive ballads will ring out across the desert of Helmand as
personnel from the UK Joint Forces Medical Group give a special choral
performance.

Major Simon Kidd, a trauma nurse co-ordinator who will lead the
choir, said: 'It is quite a busy time out here, people are working in
really stressed environments, working long hours, and doing very tough
jobs very well.

'Having something completely outside the working environment, which people can do together goes down really well.

'People can relax, enjoy themselves. It's a difficult time for people being away from home, away from families.'

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'I hope doctors will tell me I'll be able to walk again': Christmas wish of Major injured in Afghanistan bomb blast